Shielded high velocity thermocouple



y 8, 1942. B. BRAGG, 30 2,291,448

SHIELDED HIGH VELOCITY THERMOCOUPLE Filed Oct. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l W B M July 28, 1942. 5.1.. BRAGG, 30 2,291,448

SHIELDED HIGH VELOCITY THERMOCOUPLE Filed Oct. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 28, 1942 SHIELDED HIGH VELOCITY THERMO- COUPLE Benjamin L. Bragg, 111, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,791

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a thermocouple apparatus, and more particularly to a shielded thermocouple structure. It.is an object of the invention to provide a means for measuring the temperature of hot gases in the radiant section of a furnace, while avoiding the usual effect of radiant heat on such measurements. It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby the hot gases themselves may be utilized as an insulating medium in the thermocouple apparatus.

These and other objects may be fully under stood from the following specification when it is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view of the apparatus in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus, in horizontal section, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking toward the entrance for hot gases; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through another form of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral I designates a two wire thermocouple in which the wires 2 and 3 are protected by an insulating material 4, the wires; extending therethrough to provide a union 5 which is to be disposed in contact with a stream of hot fluid. The insulated wires are supported in fluid-tight relation to a cap member 6, which in turn is held in fluid and pressure-tight relation to the wall 1 of a chamber or vessel in which are the gases or other fluids to be temperature tested.-

The cap member 5 provided with a suction fitting 6a, extends. into the chamber as indicated, and with the conical reducer element or hood 8 and the tubular member or body portion 9, provide the outer wall of the thermocouple shield. The member 9 as shown, is formed with a biased or angular end to which has been secured a matching section II] providing a substantially L- shaped passageway ll opening laterallyinto the path of the hot gases.

Within the outer tubular member 9, similar members 9a and 9b are concentrically disposed, each having a matching section Ma and H32). In this fashion a series of concentric passageways H, Ha and Nb are formed. The inner tubular members 911 and 922 may be maintained in their desired concentric relation to one another and to the member 9, in any convenient fashion. As shown, they are assembled and maintained in position. by means of a plurality of pins l2 and l2a, irregularly disposed between tubular members. The use of pins is preferred as a means to reduce transfer of heat by conduction from the outer tube 9 to the innermost tube 9b.

As illustrated, the cap member 6 is provided with a side arm 6a through which the interior of the thermocouple shield may be connected to a suction pump M or other convenient means for producing a high velocity flow of hot fluid or gas through the passageways l I, i la and lib. It is contemplated that, in the apparatus shown, the spacing of the tubes, and the size of the passageways so formed will be such as to produce substantially equal pressure drop through each one, and thereby. .obtain a substantially equivalent high velocity efiect through each of the passageways. It is contemplated, however, that under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to vary the pressure drop from one passage to another, and in such instance, the relationship between the several passages may be altered in any desired fashion, as by reducing or increasing the crosssectional area of one or more of the passageways.

In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 4, it may be found desirable to provide for Withdrawing fluids throughthe enclosed zone of the device by separate lines. In the form of the device shown, the body portion 9 extends outwardly through the wall 1, and is provided with a conical hood 8 having an annular closure 8a through which the tubular member 9b is extended into connection with a suction pipe 622. The concentric passages II and Ila are served, through the hood member 8, by means of the suction pipe connected therewith. Said suction pipes 61) and 6c are connected toany suitable suctionproducing means, such as steam eductors l5 and I6, into which steam is introduced through jets H and I8, respectively. In this fashion, any suitable arrangements may be made for withdrawing the stream of fluid in contact with the heat sensitive element at a different rate than other fluid, also passing through theenclosed zone of the device, but out of contact with the heat sensitive element.

The instrument, as described, is intended to be placed in path of a stream of fluid to be tem perature tested, with the inlet end facing up stream. Suction is then applied to the device, and a flow of gas at high velocity caused to pass through the tube. Due to its high velocity, the gas flowing through the outer passage l i, while heated by radiation through the outer passage walls, will produce a high conduction heat transfer efiect, and tend to make the tubular member temperature. Similarly,

a gas flowing through the passage Ha will also id to reduce the total effect of radiant heat on e shield, so that the gas flowing through the aermost passage llb should demonstrate its 1e temperature. Furthermore, by reason of the lgular form of the device, the thermocouple is lequately shielded from the direct effect of diant heat which might ordinarily enter .rough the open end of the tube, thus overcomg or avoiding the condition in which the therocouple might see through the tube end. Various alterations and changes may be made l the structure as described, for the purpose of lustration, and it is not intended that the scope E the invention shall be limited by such descripon, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a heat responsive apparatus, a heat reponsive element, radiant heat-shielding means herefor, comprising concentric spaced tubes disvosed longitudinally with respect to said heat reponsi've element, whereby the element is proected from all lateral radiant heat, angular exensions at the fluid intake end of-said tubes and hood at the other end of said tubes protecting ;he element from all other sources of radiant neat and means for passing the fluid to be temoroaoh the true gas perature tested at high velocity through said con centric tubes and in contact with said heat responsive element.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the spaced tubes are of substantially L-shape.

3. In combination with the wall of a structure within which radiant heat is being generated and which contains a fluid the temperature of which is to be measured, a temperature measuring device comprising an outer shield member within the structure, a suction fitting outside the structure and connected in fluid-tight relation to said shield member, a plurality of spaced concentric members of generally tubular form within said shield member forming parallel concentric passageways, said shield and spaced concentric members each being angularly offset forming a second series of parallel concentric passageways communicating with and extending angularly to the first mentioned passageways, all of said second series of passageways opening into said structure, a thermocouple positioned within the innermost of said first mentioned passageways and shielded from radiant heat by said offset shield and concentric members, and means connected with the suction fitting for drawing the said passageways.

B BRAGG, III.

fluid through all ENJAMIN L. 

